The Fellowship in General Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Stewardship course (FGID & AMS) is a yearlong blended learning course. It involves online self-learning modules and contact sessions. The Department of Infectious Diseases at Christian Medical College, Vellore developed this course with funding from the NIH’s Global Infectious Disease Research Training grant.
FGID & AMS Course Prospectus 2025 – 2026
FGID & AMS Course Application 2025 – 2026
The last date to submit the application form for the FGID & AMS course is extended till 15th April, 2025.
Infectious Diseases as a specialty has gained a lot of importance in the field of internal medicine. It has an integral role to play in management of different diseases which are labelled as infectious. Knowledge in microbiology has progressed enormously and many sophisticated and expensive diagnostic techniques are widely available. New treatment options are introduced while numerous microbial species demonstrate increasing resistance to antimicrobial agents. The intervention of trained infectious disease physicians could thus contribute to optimize treatment and limit the use of economic resources. There are very few trained Infectious Diseases physicians and pharmacists who are trained in clinical antimicrobial stewardship.
In the secondary care level, the medical community faces many challenges with regard to treatment of infections. Inappropriate management of the infectious diseases can lead to increased mortality and morbidity. Lack of adequate diagnostic facilities, lack of resources, and availability of expensive tests and therapies poses difficulty in offering pathogen directed therapy. The provision of a syndromic and algorithmic approach by the academic Infectious Diseases physicians to train personnel at secondary level care by involving them in infection control, hospital epidemiology and antibiotic management program will further lead to reduction in mortality and morbidity and further reduce anti-microbial resistance by providing a problem-solving network. Appropriate management of infections will lead to capacity building at the secondary level hospitals.
Antibiotic abuse is also rampant at the primary and secondary care levels and this is often ignored area as there are no trained personnel to tackle this. There is an increasing need for expertise because of growing antimicrobial resistance and emerging pathogens.
With a positive attitude toward learning, application, and leadership, ID physicians can redefine their role and expand their services through managed care. Secondary/tertiary care hospitals have access to most antimicrobials but often without laboratory facilities to confirm diagnosis leading to spiraling empiricism and lack of de-escalation and streamlining strategies. This high antibiotic use hence leads to a high prevalence of resistance. The overall aim of this course is to encourage and facilitate responsible and appropriate use of antibiotics which can be sustainable in a secondary hospital level.
Hospital based programs and education regarding appropriate anti-microbial use have been found to be useful in improving the quality of patient care. Implementation of an effective AMSP (Anti-Microbial Stewardship Program) requires a multidisciplinary approach involving a variety of experts. Thus, this course will enhance the physician’s knowledge and skill to improve in patient care.
This is a one-year blended learning course with two contact programs at CMC Vellore and 12 modules which contain 3-4 live lectures per module via zoom platform, in addition reading materials also will be provided in a pdf format. There will be self-assessments to encourage the readers. Assignments will be posted after each module that needs to be completed within a prescribed time limit. There will be two contact classes at CMC Vellore where the participants will have the hands-on training in clinical and laboratory setting. The candidate needs to complete a project during the course period which will benefit his/her hospital during the service.
Faculty from different departments of Christian Medical College, Vellore are involved in preparing different modules and teaching during the contact sessions.
| Dr. Priscilla Rupali., MD.,DTMH.,FRCP Sr. Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, CMC Vellore |
Dr. Rajiv Karthik ., MD.,MPH.,DM Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, CMC Vellore |
| Dr. O C Abraham., MD Sr. Professor, Department of Medicine, CMC Vellore |
Dr. Abi Manesh., MD.,DM Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, CMC Vellore |
| Dr. Joy Sarojini Michael., MD Professor, Department of Clinical Microbiology, CMC Vellore |
Dr. Winsley Rose., MD(Pead).,MSc(Epid) Professor, Department of Child Health III, CMC Vellore |
| Dr. Balaji V MD., PhD Sr. Professor, Department of Clinical Microbiology, CMC Vellore |
Dr. Binesh Lal., MD Professor, Department of Clinical Microbiology, CMC Vellore |
| Dr. SusannePulimood., MD Sr. Professor, Department of Dermatology, CMC Vellore |
Dr. Dhanalaksmi., MD Asst. Professor, Department of Clinical Microbiology, CMC Vellore |
| Dr. Shoba Mammen., MD Professor, Department of Clinical Virolog, CMC Vellore |
Dr. Prasannakumar P MD., DM Asst. Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, CMC Vellore |
| Dr. Binila Chacko., MD Professor, Critical Care Medicine, CMC Vellore |
Dr. Divyashree., MD., PDF (ID) Infectious Disease Specialist, MGM Hospitals, Mumbai |
| Dr. Lydia Jennifer., MD Asst. Professor, Department of Clinical Microbiology, CMC Vellore |
Dr. Sudha Jasmine., MD Professor, Department of Medicine, CMC Vellore |
| Dr. Vikas Deswal., MD., PDF (ID) Infectious Disease Specialist, Medanta the Medcity, Gurgram |
Dr. Sowmya Sathyendra., MD Professor, Department of Medicine, CMC Vellore |
| Dr. Leni George.,DD., MD (Derm) Professor, Department of Dermatology, CMC Vellore |
Dr. Audrin Lenin., MD Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, CMC Vellore |
| Dr. Selwyn Selvakumar, MD., DM Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, CMC Vellore |
Dr. Rini Bandhopadyay MD., DM Asst. Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, CMC Vellore |
| Dr. Jency Maria Koshy., MD Consultant Physician, Believers Medical College, Thiruvalla, Kerala |
Dr. Chintankumar H. Kaswala MD., PDF (ID) Consultant Infectious Diseases, HCG oncology, Bengaluru |
This course is aimed to help the clinicians in their day today patient care/practice; currently it is purely an institutional run course and is not affiliated to any University or national and international accreditation bodies.
Each year 30 seats are allotted for this course.
Selection is through personal online interview and there is no entrance exam.
Dr. Priscilla Rupali, MD., DTMH., FRCP., FIDSA
Course Director,
Department of Infectious Diseases,
Christian Medical College,
SP Complex, 4th Floor,
Ida Scudder Road, Vellore-632004,
Tamilnadu, India.
Ph: 04162282804/3617
Email: fgid@cmcvellore.ac.in
Dr. Prasannakumar P., MD., DM (ID)
Course Convener,
Department of Infectious Diseases,
Christian Medical College,
SP Complex, 4th Floor,
Ida Scudder Road, Vellore-632004,
Tamilnadu, India.
Ph: 04162282804/3617
Email: fgid@cmcvellore.ac.in
Last Updated on 21 March, 2025
